Clothes Dry, Memories Don't

I was sharing stories from my Year by the Water at a conference in Boston. In the Q & A, a woman raised her hand and said, "Were there any places you missed?"

"Yes, I always wanted to go to Walden Pond, but somehow just never made it."

She said, "You know it's an hour away?"

Well, blow me over with a feather. I didn't know.

This was too good of an opportunity to miss. The thing is, I had to practice all the "hacks" I learned in my travels about NOT letting reasons prevent us from doing what calls us.

See, I had a consult scheduled the next day. But one of the things I learned along the way was it's okay (and sometimes even smart) to revisit and re-negotiate commitments.

I called my client, explained the circumstances, asked if we could meet Friday instead, and made clear that if she wanted/needed to keep our appointment, I would be happy to do so.

She made my day when she said, "Friday actually works better for me." Win-win.

On the way to Concord, Mas, it begin raining and got blustery. Out of the blue, the "voice that has no words" (as Rumi calls it) whispered, "Get up early and go in the morning."

This was another lesson learned on my travels. Do NOT let intellect (reasons) over-rule intuition (what feels right), so that's what I did.

The morning dawned bright and clear. There were only three other cars in the parking lot when I arrived at Walden Pond. As I was getting my backpack out of the car, a man walked by ... in his swim trunks with a towel thrown over his shoulder.

It was OCTOBER IN NEW ENGLAND!!?

I asked him, "Is the water warm enough to swim?"

?He told me, "It is if you go down to the end of the lake where Thoreau's cabin is. There's a cove there that is shallow and a bit warmer."?

Well, I knew I was going to walk where Thoreau walked. I knew I was going to write where he wrote. I didn't know I was going to have a chance to swim where Thoreau swam.

I headed down the pine-needle covered path and... I know it's a cliche but have you ever seen something so beautiful it took your breath away?

I I rounded a corner, emerged from the woods .. and there was a crystal clear cove mirroring the trees, sky and clouds. It was perfection.

I wanted so much to go in, but I didn't have a swim suit. And it was c-c-c-old. And my clothes would get wet. There were lots of "reasons" not to go in.

Back and forth I went, "Should I? Shouldn't I? Should I? Shouldn't I?"

Then the voice that has no words whispered in my ear and in my heart - Clothes dry. Memories don't.?

Clothes dry. Memories don't.

So... I went in.

And I will always be glad I did.

I will remember for the rest of my life floating on that water, gazing up at that sky, immersed in that experience, receiving and reveling in that blessed moment, feeling gloriously alive.

What is something you've been thinking of doing, something you've been wanting to try?

What is an experience, an opportunity calling you?

Are you thinking of all the reasons NOT TO GO?

Or are you thinking of all the reasons TO GO?

I promise, when you look back at the end of your life, what you will remember are the times you opted for experiences... the times you said YES to life.

We are not here to stand on the sidelines.

We are here to GO IN.?

We are here to THOREAU our life into what really matters.

You'll never know... unless you go.?

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This is excerpted from Sam's book SOMEDAY is Not a Day in the Week. She loves sharing these inspirational stories with convention audiences that motivate them to GO IN!